OUR APPROACH
The occupation of Dannenröder Forest in Hesse, Germany, is a striking example of grassroots environmental activism. Faced with plans to expand the A49 motorway, activists and local residents took a stand to protect this vital forest ecosystem. Through treehouses, barricades, and direct action, they disrupted construction efforts and brought attention to the urgent need for ecological preservation.
This movement quickly gained national and international recognition, symbolizing the global fight against climate change and the growing demand for sustainable infrastructure. The occupation highlighted the tension between economic development and environmental conservation, sparking broader discussions about the future of our planet.
As viewer, you have the opportunity to explore key locations of the protests and, as in this case, climb a treehouse to engage in conversations with the activists.
The project consists of a multitude of 360° images filled with numerous interactive info-points that encourage the viewer to discover.
Although the occupation was eventually cleared in a costly police operation, its impact on Germany’s environmental discourse remains significant. In late 2020, we visited Dannenröder Forest multiple times to document the occupation and its key moments. Through a multimedia web platform, we enabled viewers to explore pivotal locations and events of the protest.
View of the Dannenröder Forest with one of the protest camps in the foreground. In the background, the brightly lit forest aisles, guarded by the police.
The main protest camp near the forest served as the headquarters for climate activists. For months, hundreds of protesters organized their campaigns from this central hub.
The interactive experience allows users to climb treehouses, engage with activists, and even join in as protesters storm a logging site to block construction equipment. Our goal was to immerse viewers in the heart of the action, giving them a firsthand perspective on this crucial environmental struggle.
An activist from the environmental organization Greenpeace protests with a paraglider over the forest.
Police officers grapple with protesters attempting to block a forestry machine.
Treehouses used by activists to resist eviction by the police. During the resistance in the Dannenröder Forest, there were several such villages, called "barrios."
Police officers have formed a line in a field in front of the forest to prevent additional activists from entering the area.
An activist sits on a log extending 20 meters out of the forest. Eventually, this structure was also cleared by the police.
Filming next to a fenced-off logging area in the forest.
Launching a camera drone in front of the forest.